"MAGIC" Room or Resort Upgrades

[LadyDiznee123]

Hello All:

I am trying to remember from my old forum reading Disney days (97 to 2000) how a person could just get a room upgrade as if by "Magic" (and even perhaps a resort upgrade or a free snack or dining plan) just by asking.... but I don't recall exactly how to ask. If I recall correctly you can wait until check in and simply ask the CM directly at the window if there is an upgrade available.

I don't know if it's wishful thinking, but since I am going SOLO this next time at POFQ (and choosing Garden View) I'm thinking someone might take pity on me and think "Poor girl... let's do her a favor and make her stay more pleasurable - let's get her a Water View or Better yet... let's move her to The Grand Floridian." - lol.

Anyway, can someone school me on when it is that you should ask if upgrades are available?

Thanks so much!

 

[chalee94]

if you ask for an upgrade, be prepared to pay for it.

while upgrades may seem common based on posts on the DIS, that is mostly because the 90%+ of people who don't get upgraded don't bother to post "yay, i got what i booked!" upgrades are pretty rare.

from previous reports from CMs, 1) most upgrade decisions are made in advance based on what suits disney (based on room availability and maintenance issues) and 2) someone asking for a free upgrade typically puts the CMs in a bad mood.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

if you ask for an upgrade, be prepared to pay for it.

while upgrades may seem common based on posts on the DIS, that is mostly because the 90%+ of people who don't get upgraded don't bother to post "yay, i got what i booked!" upgrades are pretty rare.

from previous reports from CMs, 1) most upgrade decisions are made in advance based on what suits disney (based on room availability and maintenance issues) and 2) someone asking for a free upgrade typically puts the CMs in a bad mood.

Cool. Thanks for the info!

 

[Queeneileen]

I have booked through Travelocity for Caribbean Beach. When I check in, I ask if there is any chance I can get a room close to the food court so that my 2 tween kids can walk to the food court. On 2 occasions they gave me a great location. Once they said that I would have to pay for a preferred room. I said I didn't have the extra money available, so they gave it to me anyways. Just be really nice and they usually accommodate. Don't be picky. Take what they give you and be very grateful.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I have booked through Travelocity for Caribbean Beach. When I check in, I ask if there is any chance I can get a room close to the food court so that my 2 tween kids can walk to the food court. On 2 occasions they gave me a great location. Once they said that I would have to pay for a preferred room. I said I didn't have the extra money available, so they gave it to me anyways. Just be really nice and they usually accommodate. Don't be picky. Take what they give you and be very grateful.

Thanks for the Tip Queen Eileen! I may ask for a room thats closer to the entrance and food court since I will indeed be a woman traveling alone! Going to follow your posts if you don't mind. We are both earning our ears! (*_*)

Thanks again!

 

[undertheradar]

The true rule of thumb is to book what you will be happy with. Somehow hoping for or expecting a free upgrade is setting yourself up for an awkward moment.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

The true rule of thumb is to book what you will be happy with. Somehow hoping for or expecting a free upgrade is setting yourself up for an awkward moment.

Of Course, I agree. I am booking a Garden view (believe it or not I actually prefer a Garden view over water view) at POFQ. I'm definitely going to happy with what I've booked. But I wanted to be up on the upgrade etiquette.. just in case. I think it's foolish to be so much on a Budget that you can barely afford doing what you like to do. Disney is not the place for that. Book what you can afford and will enjoy. I always come to Disney being able to afford what I like to and where I like to be most!

 

[scard192]

Of Course, I agree. I am booking a Garden view (believe it or not I actually prefer a Garden view over water view) at POFQ. I'm definitely going to happy with what I've booked. But I wanted to be up on the upgrade etiquette.. just in case. I think it's foolish to be so much on a Budget that you can barely afford doing what you like to do. Disney is not the place for that. Book what you can afford and will enjoy. I always come to Disney being able to afford what I like to and where I like to be most!

Request Bldg 4 at POFQ. we had a Garden View room there in 2013 and requested Bldg 4 based on the recommendations on the Resort Section of the DIS Boards. the bus stops were behind the building and we were very close to the Food Court.

as others have suggested, book and plan to pay for the resort and room type you want. I always wanted to stay at POFQ and delayed my family trip by a year so I could save enough money to stay there. It was SO worth it.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Request Bldg 4 at POFQ. we had a Garden View room there in 2013 and requested Bldg 4 based on the recommendations on the Resort Section of the DIS Boards. the bus stops were behind the building and we were very close to the Food Court.

as others have suggested, book and plan to pay for the resort and room type you want. I always wanted to stay at POFQ and delayed my family trip by a year so I could save enough money to stay there. It was SO worth it.

Thanks Scard. The last time we stayed in 2000 our building was the first building to the left right across from the Sassagoula food court. Not sure if that was bldg number four - but thanks for the tip! I am going to check the POFQ map to see if I can find / remember that bldg.

******
UPDATE:
Okay I just checked. I was in bldg number 5... across the street. bldg number four is directly NEXT to the food court on the same side of the street! (*_*)

SCROLL DOWN TO SECOND MAP
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-french.htm

 

[Sinderelly]

Free upgrades are total "pixiedust". An awesome and unexpected surprise. Go in with no expectations other than to get the room you booked and paid for. I have never heard of a free DDP.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Free upgrades are total "pixiedust". An awesome and unexpected surprise. Go in with no expectations other than to get the room you booked and paid for. I have never heard of a free DDP.

Yes, I think this is how I also remember it! This was back in the 90's and people were just posting about it as a surprise. Usually for some reason though. Like something minor may have happened to delay their room... and then BAM... PIXIEDUST!.... upgrade! lol.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[scard192]

Yes, I think this is how I also remember it! This was back in the 90's and people were just posting about it as a surprise. Usually for some reason though. Like something minor may have happened to delay their room... and then BAM... PIXIEDUST!.... upgrade! lol.

Thanks for sharing!

great website for POFQ/POR that has all kinds of great info and maps

http://www.portorleans.org/[/URL

 

[LadyDiznee123]

great website for POFQ/POR that has all kinds of great info and maps

http://www.portorleans.org/[/URL

Thanks!

 

[mistysue]

Yes, I think this is how I also remember it! This was back in the 90's and people were just posting about it as a surprise. Usually for some reason though. Like something minor may have happened to delay their room... and then BAM... PIXIEDUST!.... upgrade! lol.

Thanks for sharing!

These days in most cases you need a serious problem before you get anything for it. We've had rooms unavailable until well into the evening and trouble getting luggage back with 2+ hour waits in the room for bell services. I think it's been 3 trips since they started text messaging your room numbers... and that service has never worked for us which means we end up back at the front desk with them telling us if we don't have the message yet our room isn't ready. Then eventually they realize it's the system, not the room not being ready. No upgrades... we've just been happy to get the room at all.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

These days in most cases you need a serious problem before you get anything for it. We've had rooms unavailable until well into the evening and trouble getting luggage back with 2+ hour waits in the room for bell services. I think it's been 3 trips since they started text messaging your room numbers... and that service has never worked for us which means we end up back at the front desk with them telling us if we don't have the message yet our room isn't ready. Then eventually they realize it's the system, not the room not being ready. No upgrades... we've just been happy to get the room at all.

To be honest MistySue... .as long as I have waited to finally get back to Disney.... Indeed I too will be happy to get what I asked for. Miss Disney something awful.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think it's like this at any hotel.... (IMHO) as k nicely when you check in if your room will be near ------ (whatever it is that appeals to you) and if they say sure, great! if they say no way, say thanks anyway and enjoy your room!

 

[AquaDame]

We were upgraded once to water view when the room they originally sent us to was still dirty and they didn't have anything else available as a standard. Another time when my parents stayed at POFQ they were sent to a room with repair issues - torn bed sheets, soiled carpet, etc and tried a second standard room but that one also had issues (as well as them having problems with their magic bands opening the door!). After three issues they were sent to the Animal Kingdom Lodge instead but at the time all they wanted was to just get into ANY ROOM at that point, lol!

Another time at the Disneyland Hotel we were upgraded without asking to a pool view room from standard. That was really nice... made me wish we had been staying longer!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

We were upgraded once to water view when the room they originally sent us to was still dirty and they didn't have anything else available as a standard. Another time when my parents stayed at POFQ they were sent to a room with repair issues - torn bed sheets, soiled carpet, etc and tried a second standard room but that one also had issues (as well as them having problems with their magic bands opening the door!). After three issues they were sent to the Animal Kingdom Lodge instead but at the time all they wanted was to just get into ANY ROOM at that point, lol!

Another time at the Disneyland Hotel we were upgraded without asking to a pool view room from standard. That was really nice... made me wish we had been staying longer!

Whooo! That's what I'm talkin' a bout AquaDame! lol. Thanks for sharing!

 

[MommaBarb]

We booked a room at the Contemporary for 3 adults and 2 kids (my sister came with us last year), and when we got there, we were named family of the day and upgraded to the hospitality suite with club level access. I am thinking we got that because of being 3 adults and 2 kids and the suite not being booked for our days (we were there Tues-Sat or Sun), but I was very happy and quite disbelieving!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

We booked a room at the Contemporary for 3 adults and 2 kids (my sister came with us last year), and when we got there, we were named family of the day and upgraded to the hospitality suite with club level access. I am thinking we got that because of being 3 adults and 2 kids and the suite not being booked for our days (we were there Tues-Sat or Sun), but I was very happy and quite disbelieving!

Nice! Thanks for sharing.